Forte Foundation Fellowship 2027 | Study in United States — Forte Foundation
Business school scholarships built specifically around increasing the number of women in MBA programs are not new, but Forte’s reach across so many top-tier partner schools at once makes it one of the more significant ones to know about.
About the Fellowship
The Forte Foundation Fellowship was created to boost the number of women in business schools, with fellowships available at partner institutions including Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, Dartmouth, and Georgetown McDonough, among many others. The fellowship is open to women of all nationalities pursuing an MBA.
Forte Fellows collectively have received hundreds of millions of dollars in scholarship funding across the program’s history, alongside access to exclusive networking and leadership development opportunities built specifically for the Forte community.
Forte Foundation itself was founded by a coalition of business schools and corporations specifically concerned about the persistent underrepresentation of women in MBA programs and, by extension, in senior business leadership roles. The fellowship program is its most visible and direct response to that gap.
Because fellowship terms are set individually by each partner school, two Forte Fellows at different universities might receive quite different award amounts and benefits, even though they share the same Forte Fellow designation and access to the shared community programming.
Fellowship Benefits
- Financial awards toward MBA tuition at partner business schools
- Access to exclusive networking events within the Forte Fellows community
- Leadership development programming specifically for women in business
- Recognition across dozens of top-ranked MBA programs
Eligibility Criteria
- You must identify as a woman
- You must be applying to or admitted at a Forte partner MBA program
- There is no nationality restriction
- You must meet your specific target business school’s own admission standards
Fields of Study Covered
The fellowship is specifically tied to MBA programs at Forte’s partner business schools, rather than business education broadly defined.
Required Documents
- A completed MBA application to your target Forte partner school
- Forte Fellowship consideration materials, as specified by your target school
- Academic transcripts
- Standardized test scores, such as the GMAT or GRE, as required by your program
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
- Identify which Forte partner business schools you’re interested in applying to
- Apply for MBA admission at your chosen school, indicating interest in the Forte Fellowship where prompted
- Submit all required materials by your target school’s own MBA application deadline
- Attend any Forte-specific events or sessions your target school offers to strengthen your candidacy
Selection Process
Each partner business school manages its own Forte Fellowship selection as part of its overall MBA admission review, considering academic strength, leadership potential, and fit with the Forte mission of advancing women in business.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
- Engage with Forte’s own events and resources before applying, since many partner schools value demonstrated engagement with the Forte community
- Research which specific partner schools best fit your career goals, since fellowship amounts and criteria can differ by school
- Apply early in your target school’s MBA admission cycle
- Compare this against other graduate funding like the AAUW International Fellowship if you’re weighing multiple graduate funding sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this fellowship open to international applicants?
Yes, there is no nationality restriction; Forte Fellows come from all over the world.
Do I apply to Forte directly, or through my target business school?
You apply for MBA admission to your target Forte partner school, with Forte Fellowship consideration built into that same process.
How many business schools participate in the Forte program?
Dozens of top-ranked schools participate, including Harvard, MIT Sloan, Dartmouth, and Georgetown, among many others.
Is the fellowship amount the same at every partner school?
No, award amounts and selection criteria are determined individually by each partner school.
What is the application deadline?
Deadlines follow each partner school’s own MBA application calendar; Forte’s broader program activity typically begins around August.
Can I apply to the Forte Fellowship at more than one partner school?
Yes, since Forte Fellowship consideration happens through each individual school’s own MBA application, you can apply to multiple partner schools and be considered at each.
Does the fellowship require ongoing involvement with Forte after the award?
Many fellows stay engaged with Forte’s broader network and programming after graduation, though specific ongoing requirements can vary by partner school.
Is there a GMAT or GRE score requirement for the fellowship specifically?
Your target business school’s own standardized test requirements apply; there is no separate Forte-specific test score threshold beyond your school’s admission standards.